I caught the summer azures puddling this morning by the creek on my Raven Cliff Falls Trail hike.

Today’s hike rewarded me with the sight of the American Indian ghost pipe plant, which I had only ever seen in pictures. The *huge* body of Bondarzewia guaitecasensis (species of polypore fungus) was incredible, too. I put my lens cap on it for scale; it was at least 2.5 - 3.0ft across and 1ft high.

Caught this osprey over Jellison Cove one morning last week while walking on the beach. Looked like he was carrying a thick twig for his nest away with him.

One of my favorite discoveries in Maine was Birdsacre, Cordelia Stanwood’s former home, which has been turned into a nature preserve with miles of trails and also serves as the home of multiple permanently injured bird “ambassadors” who could not be rehabilitated to return to life in the wild.

Some of my favorite landscapes of Acadia National Park #acadianp #maineoutdoors #maine #blueskytogs

Thunderhole at low tide (so no impressive splishy splashies, but still very impressive rocks), Acadia National Park 6/18/26

Hunter’s Beach, Acadia National Park, 6/18/26

Just finished @dmihesuah.bsky.social’s Blood Relay, and it packed a gut punch. Echoes of Wind River but uniquely and authentically Native female perspectives and points of view anchor Mihesuah’s fictional #MMIW narrative. I hope this is the first in a series with more Perry, Sophia, and Raquel.

#AcadiaNationalPark is where you want to go if you want umpteen pictures posing near impressive rocks that slap so hard. They got big ones, small ones, rough ones, smooth ones, all shapes, all colors, just cool rocks and even more cool rocks everywhere you go, etc. #maineoutdoors #rocks

The #puffins lived up to the hype. Stupid cute borbs. Highly recommend Acadia Puffins Cruise to Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge if you’re in the area. #MaineCoast #CoastalMaine #Maine #PetitManan #MaineOutdoors #BirdWatching

Oh, hiiiii. The harbor seals we observed a few dozen yards away from our 40’ boat near #PetitManan were so curious and delightful. They surrounded our boat to pop their heads out of the water to inspect us. #CoastalMaine #Maine

On the trail to Tidal Falls Preserve, just before you reach the opening of the forest trail to the rocky coastal shore on the bay, there is a large tree stump with a mound of things people have found on the beach and brought back to share on their hike back to the trailhead. #maine #Blueskytogs

Drove past this house with stories on my way to a nature preserve off Jellison Cove/Taunton Bay in Downeast, Maine and had to stop to photograph it. #maine #Blueskytogs

Tidal Falls Preserve, managed by the Frenchman’s Bay Conservancy. in Hancock, Maine, 6/18/26

Downeast Maine & Acadia National Park region in black and white #maine #downeastmaine #acadianationalpark #acadia #mainecoast #maineoutdoors #BlueskyPhotography #bnw #Bskytogs #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography

Acadia NP was stunning.

I WAS ON A BOAT Petite Manan National Wildlife Refuge, Maine, 6/17/26

moody dramatic foggy rainy day in Maine, 6/17/26

The great blue heron, Jellison Cove, Hancock, Maine 6/16/26

Tidal Falls Preserve, Hancock, Maine 6/18/26

These Star Wars garden statues at a highway antique mall between Ellsworth and Bangor were precious.

Couldn’t not stop by the International Cryptozoology Museum in Bangor on our way out of town today to pay homage to the Mothman and others.

Flew out of Bangor today after an amazing week exploring Downeast Maine and Acadia National Park. Had to stop by Uncle Stevie’s house on our way out of town. #stephenking #constantreader #castlerock

The ocean is mysterious, beautiful, and terrifying. Jellison Cove, Maine, 6/17/26

landscapes of Acadia NP, Maine Otter Cliffs Overlook, crossing the st to OCO, coastal inlet on Ship Harbor trail, and Sand Beach

Bladder wrack and knotted wrack from all along the shore here, near Frenchman’s Bay / Acadia NP area

The Bubbles, as seen from Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

Ospreys built the most ridiculous nest I’ve ever seen in person on top of a massive telephone pole platform. Pic from our vehicle for scale. This was right before the turnoff to Corea Heath (last hike of the day for us) in Downeast Maine.

Who did it better be honest

Anvil Trail break on the Schoodic Peninsula, colorful lobster pot buoys, Otter Cliffs Overlook in Acadia NP, sculpture garden in Northeast Harbor, ME

I just love me a good carnivorous pitcher plant, don’t you

I saw sooo many puffins and seals today on Petite Manan Island (National Wildlife Refuge). Pics of those later bc I’m not spending time processing them while still on the trip. For now, selfie squeeeee.

Cadillac Mountain Summit at 6:15am yesterday, Acadia National Park

Hubs: How long is that puffin cruise we’re going on tomorrow? Me: dunno, like two hours mebbe? Hubs: . . . Me: What? Hubs: You notice nobody does three hour tours any more? . . . Me: [🤨] Hubs: . . . well not since Gilligan, y’know. If I had to hear it, so do you.

The house we rented for our week near Acadia NP is right here on Frenchman’s Bay, just north of Mount Desert Island. This is the view to the East. Only a few steps from the house down to the rockiest, shelliest beach I’ve ever seen. The lupine is in full bloom right now. I could live here forever.

Hiked Beech Mountain in Acadia today. Also walked Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, Bass Harbor, Wonderland, Sea Wall, and Ship Harbor. Tomorrow, puffins!

Ayuh. Headed to Maine tomorrow with hubs for the week. Our first major vacation together in years. I wonder how many pounds of lobster I can eat in a week.

A few minutes ago, I hit 2 years sober. Feels good.

all the smol things

Scored a first edition paperback of one of my favorite novels at the thrift store this past week. Not worth a lot but still a beautiful vintage copy in mint condition.

tufted squawky titmouse

The great spangled fritillary on purple coneflower

Pointing to one of the delightful “Possum People” Cape Cod folk artist William Glover incorporates into his art.

“Man Beleaguered by Birds” (2020) by Cape Cod folk artist William Glover

We enjoyed Wild and Wonderful: Folk Art by Cape Cod artist Alfred Glover at the Atlanta Botanic Gardens in Gainesville today.

I continue to adore my Canon R7 upgrade, which caught this hummer peeing off the deck feeder earlier. Good times.

bun bun continues to thrive

just tryna watch some bob’s after a saturday spent doing backbreaking labor around the house and the CC is stuck on “why can’t I be the me I want to be?” from a previous episode and now I feel broken in mind and spirit as well as body.

Caught this puddle of Eastern (yellow) and spicebush (black) swallowtails extracting salts and nutrients from the water in the creekside bank last weekend at Raven Cliff Falls trail along Dodd Creek. They pass these nutrients to female partners during mating. And they say romance is dead.

this my twilight bun bun